patentcad

How many more people have to die on our roads due to drivers distracted by cell phones? Software is now readily available that disables phones when they're moving faster than 20 mph or so. Currently it only works on smart phones with gps chips, but that could quickly grow to encompass all phones within a few years (average cell phone turnover is < 2 years).

Oh, what about passengers? Eff 'em, if you want to make or receive a call, have the driver pull over. Emergency response personnel could have phones with the software modified to allow their use while moving.

I mean, this is really idiotic, we all survived without cell phones for a century. We can all learn to call and text AFTER we've pulled over to the side of the road for a minute. Beats hunting for a pay phone like back in the day. I'd really rather not get killed by some of these drivers who weave all over the road while jerking around with their phones. I see them every friggin day.

God this pisses me off.

By the way, when Pcadette starts driving she'll have a new phone that disables the device while she's moving in a car. Period.

waanfiride

My friend and I were talking about this exact idea the other day. I think it would be great, except if people are pulling over off into the shoulder every 10 feet.

Just last night some woman in a HUGE suburban was at about a 45* angle in the lane next to me I look over expecting to see someone trying to get into the lane that I was in, and she was;
a) smoking while driving(that really pisses me off)
b) talking on her cell phone
c) going through her purse

I wanted to get out of my car and hang up her phone, throw the cig on the ground, and toss her bag in the back. Pisses me off.

Aimulator64

YES! It is about time. So many kids around where i live talk on their cell phones when driving, and they also text. When school gets out, so many high schoolers are doing this. When i drive i do not text, or talk, or even look at my phone. It drives me up the wall. I see people swerve, cross lanes, drive in shoulders, its all so wrong. So many times drivers have not seen me because they are looking at their phones. I should not have to stop to let a car turn or go around somebody just because they are not paying attention.

str8jakett

People wouldn't pull off that much. They would be pissed off at first, but they would GET USED TO IT. Pisses me off so much too, and my wife is one of the worst, I have to take her phone from her when she is driving.

MNRon

That is funny, as I have had to do the same thing. My wife thinks she can talk or text while driving, and she can't. I also don't use my phone while driving as my years with a motorcycle has scared me straight with too many close calls with the phone users.

Let's be safe out there folks!

bdcheung

how about we all carry one of these in our jersey pocket: https://www.thesignaljammer.com/produ...cker-Mini.html

Cell phone jammer with a 10 meter effective radius.

patentcad

And please spare me the inevitable 'this should be moved to the right section' posts for this thread, if discussing my realistic fears of getting flattened by one of these unguided imissiles with all the road miles I log isn't road cycling related, then what is?

patentcad

10 meters? The text message a driver responds to that results in your death will originate 100+ meters behind you on the road. The driver will cover that distance in about 4 seconds before they flatten your bike weenie ass.

patentcad

At any rate the technology is cheap, here and now, and relatively easy to implement globally next week. If there were such a simple solution for drunk driving (and all studies indicate distracted cell phone drivers are more dangerous than drunks) this would be a no-brainer.

But they'll do nothing. We're all friggin doomed.

FreddyV

Pcad has a very good point here. Just about a month ago I ended up on the hood of a car because the driver was on his phone.

The cell phone jammer is a nice idea, but 10m is a lousy radius. When the phone line gets disconnected the driver will be even more distracted because of the sudden line disconnect, and you'll maybe even more likely end up like a nice painting on the pavement.

naiku

Since when was the ground an ash tray? THAT pisses me off!! (sorry, had to)

BillyD

What I'd like to see is one of these behemoth wireless companies step up to the plate and provide ONLY these types of phones, built-in. Phone won't operate, incoming or outgoing, while vehicle is in motion 20+ . . . period!

It's an easy fix, but Noooooooooo, these capitalists are too busy making money by any means necessary to even delay a damn phone call.
They trade people's lives for a coupla bucks every single day!

jabbahop

This seems like progress here in Vermont as texting is far more distracting than talking.

Distracted driving legislation update: Vermont’s House and Senate have approved plans to ban text messaging. The House version includes a handheld cell phone ban, which was an amendment to the Senate’s bill, as well as a late-night curfew for junior drivers. The issue now goes to a conference committee. The governor and motor vehicle commissioner support the idea of a ban on texting and driving.

Eclectus

Pcad, until they disable moving phones, try a Dinotte double (400L) taillight, or for way less money, get a MagicShine and make a red lens for it, then strobe it. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how you can get drivers' attention when they are 100-400 meters behind you ( in broad daylight), and you give them time to relaxedly calculate how to pass you, and everybody is happy. A really bright tailflasher works to wake distracted drivers up. It's not totally amazing because hwy crews have been using strobe-flashers for years, but Dinotte guys were really insightful to apply the concept to bikes.

patentcad

Thanks for the suggestion.

If you think any of this will save you from these mobile phone morons, you are nuts. You are in the right place.

By the way, my night light set-up is like a Close Encounters of the Third kind scene. And my headlight is brighter than that lame ass MagicShine.

patentcad

You can't 'ban' these phones. That's bullshirt. You have to legislate that all phones sold have disabling software, and then make using your phone while driving a violation equivalent to drunk driving. That would be effective. Nothing less.

therhodeo

I would like to see them make it harder to get a drivers license as well. Last time I was at the drivers license office with my wife so she could renew there was a lady there who had failed the written test 13 times already. Sorry after 5 you're done. Legally too stupid to drive.

AngryScientist 

try telling the exec's who make their millions schmoozing on their mobile phones in the back of a limo that they cant talk while the car is in motion.

from my perspective its a good idea, but i dont see it happening.

big john

We've had the "hands free only" phone law here in California for a while, it does nothing. On the freeway you still see lots of drivers on the cell, texting, being idiots.
The disabling at speed thing is the best idea I've heard yet.

yak

I'd prefer to see federal law prohibiting phone use (talking or texting) while driving, along with stiff penalties. What happened to personal responsibility and accountability?

pkpsu

I try to talk on my phone wile driving as little as possible, I never pick up the phone in a urban setting and I won't make calls. I don't see this law going into effect mainly because of points like the one angryscientist made and that it would also effect people who take the train. Also where do you draw the line, truck drivers have been using CB radios for years and no one seems to have any issue with that.

patentcad

Yeah, OK. How is the whole 'personal responsibility and accountability' thing working out with drunk driving? Do you also support the 'war on drugs'?

Software.

RT

Amen.

scotch

Word.

Tulex

Pcad, haven't received your iPad yet?

The laws don't stop anything, you have to make technology do the work. As you said, if the phone stops working, that fixes the problem.

All they would have to do is allow 911 to go through at any speed. At least in Toyotas.